Govt to address compensation issues at Saysettha development zone

The government is on track with its plan for the 1,149-hectare Saysettha Development Zone in Vientiane, which will contribute to the country's economic growth, but some issues still need to be ironed out.

The main issue is that families living on 404 hectares of land allocated for the zone have not yet been paid compensation for the land or property they will lose because the government does not have the resources to pay them at present.

Families living on about 570 hectares that will be incorporated into the zone have already been compensated by the government at a total cost of more than 100 billion kip, a senior official from the National Committee for Special Economic Zones (NCSEZ) said.

Deputy Minister and Vice President of the NCSEZ, Ms Bouatha Khatthiya, highlighted the issue when welcoming Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his delegation to the site last week.

She said the NCSEZ has reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with the developers to identify the best way to compensate people who will have to leave their homes.

Despite the compensation issues, much progress has been made and companies are investing in the zone after realising the great potential it has in relation to regional integration.

Some 30 local and foreign companies are now investing in the zone with total registered capital of US$350 million.

They have set up businesses on 73 hectares of land in the fields of construction, agriculture, energy, and logistics.

Ms Bouatha said the NCSEZ will continue to assist the zone to upgrade its one-stop administrative service and electronic management system to attract more investors.

“This zone will become the main driver of growth in the industrial and service sectors in Laos, laying the foundation for diversifying the nation's economy,” she said.

“The zone is part of the government's policy to boost economic growth and generate job opportunities for local people through modernisation and industrialisation.”

Ms Bouatha said the project will include a large residential area, a public park and green spaces, a lake, roads and drainage, tourist sites and other facilities.

During their visit, Mr Thongloun and his delegation toured some factories, including one producing animal feed, after hearing about the progress of the zone.

The Saysettha Development Zone is being managed by the Laos-China Joint Venture Investment Company, which was established by the Yunnan Provincial Overseas Investment Company and the Vientiane Municipality Government in 2010.

The Saysettha Development Zone is located 17km to the northeast of Vientiane's central business district.

It is one of 12 zones to be established under the government's policy's to develop special and specific economic zones.

The 12 SEZs are located in Vientiane and the provinces of Savannakhet, Khammuan, Champassak, Luang Prabang, Bokeo and Luang Namtha, covering a total area of 19,499 hectares.

Many companies in the region have opened factories in Laos which has generated thousands of jobs for local people as well as revenue for the government.

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